The Tangled Web | Peter Parker

Chapter 23

I tried to rationalize the scene I had just interrupted between Peter and Gwen. I knew they had been together for a while. I had assumed they had done more than just kiss.

I knew all of this, and yet, I couldn't help but feel shocked seeing them together in the hallway like that. He looked so completely enamored by her. His face- he was so content. He was kissing her like she was the oxygen he needed to survive. He was- stop. You're making this worse for yourself.

I brought my hand to my mouth, trying to stifle the sobs that were filling up the empty space in the bathroom, echoing off the cold tile floor. It felt like something intrusive had dug into my chest and ripped out my heart and lungs, leaving my rib cage empty and barren. I lowered my hand to the sink, trying to focus on the cool smooth ceramic in an attempt to ground myself.

Come on, Em. You can do this. Get your shit together.

I tried to remind myself that he was with Gwen, who was amazing. You should be happy for him. She loved and supported him; she was kind, funny, and thoughtful. And Peter loved her. But he doesn't love me.

I reached out and turned on the sink, lowering my hand to collect the water that was rushing out. I bent forward, bringing my face closer to the faucet, and splashed water on my skin. The liquid felt brisk against my skin, slowly waking the rational part of my brain from its slumber.

I turned off the water and pressed my hands into the edge of the sink, allowing it to bear all of my weight. I closed my eyes, my head hanging low, as I attempted to collect my wits. I focused on my breathing, pushing any thought about Peter out of my head just as fast as it threatened to enter.

A loud groaning sound came from somewhere behind me. Without moving from my bent-over position against the sink, I peered between my arm and torso, staring down at the ground in the middle stall where the sound was coming from.

"Sorry," I exhaled, trying to even out my breathing. "I didn't know someone else was in here," I explained as I pushed myself up and stared at my reflection in the mirror.

My eyes quickly darted to the image of the stalls behind me; they were beginning to shake violently as the groaning sound continued to grow louder. The toilet seats started rattling from the motion. What the hell are they doing in there?

I turned around, gripping the sink in fear, and pressed my lower back into the ceramic. I leaned my head closer to the ground, lowering myself to get a better view of the person's feet in the middle stall.

Without warning, the tile around the toilet in the middle stall cracked. The toilet and most of the surrounding floor disappeared below, leaving a large gaping hole in the middle of the bathroom.

I let out a small shriek as I jumped back, finding safety underneath the sink, and positioned myself in the corner of the bathroom. At the exact same moment that I took refuge under the sink, a large scaly claw shot up from the hole in the ground, gripping at the tile.

A giant green lizard proceeded to climb out of the hole and swiped the air with its arm, destroying the bathroom stalls in one swift motion. Its claws ripped through the metal as though they were made of toothpicks. The creature opened its mouth, releasing a prehistoric roar that sent shivers down my spine.

I brought my knees into my chest and threw my hands above my head, protecting my neck as I watched one of the bathroom stall doors come crashing into the sink. Glass from the mirrors lining the wall cascaded to the ground, sprinkling onto the floor around me.

I slightly lifted my head to see the lizard's reflection in the shards of the broken mirror. A white fabric was torn from its body as it turned and stomped toward the exit, its tail nearly missing my foot.